A Beautiful Distraction(Aris Jones x Reader)

7) Liar

"Y/N, will I ever get to meet him? He sounds so perfect,"Luna whispered.

"Hey, no gushing over my boyfriend,"I playfully scolded. She groaned and covered her face with her hair, a habbit she seemed to have been born with.

"Remember what I said that night? Something like when I find the love of my life and you don't I don't wanna hear it. I swear I remember something like that,"I said while obnoxiously poking her side. She slapped my hand.

"I didn't think you would actually find anything, much less the love of your life,"She said with air quotes.

"I know right? That sucks for you,"I teased, sticking my tongue out.

"You are such a child,"She huffed.

"Dude, we're still teenagers. Pretty sure we are children,"I reminded her.

"Hey, we could be eighteen!"She exclaimed.

"Luna, we have the most baby faces I've ever seen. I doubt we're more than fifteen or sixteen."

"We're however old I say we are. I'm in charge here,"She said, puffing out her chest.

"No, you're just in denial while on a power trip. Not a good mix,"I said, shaking my head.

"I'll ask him what he thinks about actually meeting you. He's never around people his age. Besides me of course. I'm just special,"I responded playfully. She shoved me off the bed. "Ouch. Now I don't want to ask,"I told her, with an evil grin on my face.

"You wouldn't do that,"She responded, knowing me to well.

"Damn. You can't even pretend?"I asked.
"I like seeing you disappointed. You should go soon though. I know you're excited to see your lover,"She said, poking my cheek. It was my turn to slap her hand.

"Okay. Go now. I'll set up the pillows,"She offered.

"No, I sleep the same way every night."

"On the left side of the bed almost dangling off,"She said.

"Wow. I can't tell if that's impressive or creepy,"I told her, pretending to shudder.

"Everything I do is impressive. Now go. He's waiting."She said, pointing at the vent. I laughed at her eagerness. You'd think she was the one going to see Aris.

It's true that he had been a bit off lately. He's just been distracted and tired. It was kind of worrying me, but I tried not to overthink it. I'm sure WICKED's working him to the bone.

I made my usual way to his room knowing the route by heart now. I could do it with my eyes closed which I may as well have since it's basically pitch black.

I looked down once I got there just in case someone else was there. Every now and then some workers want to pop in for a visit especially Ava. Thankfully, it was just him.

"Aris,"I called, jumping down from the vent. He looked at me startled and there was something else I couldn't detect. It seemed close to guilt? It's that look you get when you're caught doing something you shouldn't. He couldn't though. He's alone in his room. You can't do anything wrong when alone.

"You okay? You look like you've seen a ghost,"I said, trying to add some lightheartedness to whatever this was. I don't know how to describe it. It's just weird. Something about it feels different when I'm near him.

"Yeah. Just wasn't expecting you,"He told me quietly.

"Oh,"I said, not knowing what else to say. It's been the same way for years. Why would it change now?

"How are you? Anything interesting today?"I asked, sitting by him.

"Like what?"He asked too quickly.

"I don't know. Anything really. Like a new book or something,"I explained, not liking this. He's right next to me, but it doesn't feel like it. It feels like there's something wrong. As much as I wanted to push it away I needed to know what was wrong. I needed to make sure I wasn't going crazy.

"Aris. I can't keep acting like something's not wrong,"I started, not really knowing where I was going with it. He got the same look he had when I came in, but this time it was worse.

"Why won't you look me in eyes anymore? You're being weird."

He looked like he wanted to tell me something. I wanted him to. "Aris,"I said firmer, pushing the hair out of his eyes. He averted my gaze. "Did they do something to you?"I asked, searching for any kind of bruise or cut on his face.

"No,"He muttered. I moved away from him. He didn't make an effort to come any closer.

"I know something's wrong. Tell me,"I demanded, having to stop my voice from breaking.

"Nothing's wrong,"He tried to assure me. I could see right though it.

"Don't lie to me. Don't you dare lie to me. At least admit something isn't right. At least let me know I'm not losing my mind,"I said as loudly as I was allowed.

"Do you still want to be with me?"I asked, feeling the words hurt my chest to even say.
"Of course I want to be with you. You're the only one I could ever love,"He said, finally looking at me. It was a look I hadn't seen in a long time. I didn't know if I could truly believe it.

"What is it? Dammit just tell me. It's been months. You've been like this for months. You forget I was coming for gods sake. Tell me!"I demanded angrily.

"Look. I'm sorry I forget. I didn't realize it had been that long,"He said. His words caused more pain then I'd ever felt.

"You didn't realize?"

His eyes widened at the realization of what he just told me. "That was a really bad choice of words. I swear. I always know when you're not here,"He rushed out.

"Aris."

"I'm sorry. It wasn't supposed to come out like that. I swear."

"Aris."

"I'm still in love with you Y/N. I don't want you to think otherwise. You're the only one I-"
"Aris Jones,"I snapped. He finally paid attention. I've never used his full name when I wasn't being playful. This was anything but that.

"Do you remember one of the first things I told you? I told you if you lie about little things how am I supposed to know you're not lying about big things. Right now you're lying to me about something. Right now I can't believe anything you say."

"I'm sorry,"He uttered.

"For what?"I asked, my voice now steady. He didn't say anything else.

"I can't do this right now. I'll see you later,"I told him, going back to the vent. I heard him stand up behind me, but I didn't look at him. I couldn't handle him right now.

"When will you be back?"He asked, almost silently.

"I don't know,"I whispered, not trusting myself to be any louder.

"Is this the end of us?"He asked.

"Are you going to tell me the truth?"I questioned. There was once again no response.

"Right now I don't know. I'll see you later Aris."

I pulled the vent shut trying not to look at him. The entire way back felt like agony knowing it could be the last time I'd make my way though it. When I got to the room I walked right last Luna and into my bed. Only when she left me alone did I allow myself to cry.

"What does it mean Janson?"
"Her Killzone reacts more to emotional than physical pain. It's very unique."
"Do you think the boy will be like that?"
"We have three days until we find out."